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Greetings from Southern California: Dual-sporting & Sport-touring - Koonzee

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  • #1

    Greetings from Southern California: Dual-sporting & Sport-touring - Koonzee

    Hello xBhp Forum Members!

    First of all, I wish to thank the xBhp founders,administrators and members/riders for providing a great motorcyclingforum!

    Although, I live many time zones away, I am looking forwardto corresponding and possibly crossing paths with members during my April-Juneof 2018 tour of northern India. If anyone has questions about touring insouthwestern United States, please feel free to contact me.

    I have enjoyed dual-sport and sport-touring motorcycling for more thanforty years. My love of motorcycling started on a Honda Z50 at the age ofseven. Currently, I own a Honda ST1100A sport-touring motorcycle and aHonda XRV750 Africa Twin dual-sport motorcycle.

    I have been fortunate to experience many beautiful rides and destinationsin North America while living in San Diego, Chicago and a small town inOhio. My other interests include telecommunications (wireless/cellularnetworking), photography, cultural events/festivals, kayaking/fishing, scubadiving, swimming and camping. My former employers include AT&T,Nortel Networks, 3COM & WorldCom. It would be nice to 'network' withother telecom or datacom dual-sport riders in India. It is alwaysinteresting to learn how wireless networks are deployed around the world orpossibly visit local switching centers or communication facilities.

    Currently, I am planning an extended tour overseas and would appreciatemeeting anyone with experience or local knowledge of touring New Zealand,Australia, India and SE Asia. My 'evolving' itinerary currently includesthe following:

    Oct. 20th - Nov. 30th: New Zealand (Approx.6.5 weeks)
    Dec. 1st - Feb.28th: Australia (Approx. 2.5 or 3 months)
    Mar. 1st - Mar.19th: Malaysia (Approx. 2.5 weeks, includes shipping duration)
    Mar. 20th - Mar. 24th: Thailand (5 day crossing with guided tour - new regulations)
    Mar. 25th - Mar. 31st: Myanmar/Burma (7 day crossing with guided tour - guiderequired)
    April 1st - May31st: India (2 or more months; Northern India - Enter at Moreh, India near Tamu, Myanmar)
    June(TBD): Nepal

    Any feedback regarding the above would be appreciated. I hope my dates are desirable.

    If any of the listed countries are on your short list for2017Q4 or 2018, please feel free to contact me. It would be nice tocompare notes since I am still in the planning stage. It would also benice to share my journey with local or foreign travel companions. Localmotorcyclist with intimate knowledge of local attractions, scenic routes,lesser-known historical sites or geological oddities are always a highlight ofa road trip.

    I would like to ask a few high-level planning questions:

    Q1: Is there an online road condition report for the TanglangPass and other popular passes? My tour book states it is normally openbetween June and September. I would like monitor the status of mountainpasses to fine tune my itinerary. Several Google searches wereunsuccessful. Does the pass often open in May?

    Q2: Does India offer a national park pass? Again,Google searches were unsuccessful?

    Q3: Is there a large national motorcycle parts distributorthat provides a variety of dual-sport tire sizes? I ride a Honda AfricaTwin (XRV750) and want to ensure tires are available or plan accordingly. Front 90/90-21 and rear 130/90-17.

    Q4: In order to maximize the duration of my journey, I hopeto minimize lodging expenses along the way. Any tips or online resourcesfor affordable lodging, volunteering or 'tent spaces' would be greatlyappreciated. In the United States, a popular website for free campsiteson government property or stealth camping is available atFreeCampsites.Net. Does the adventure riding community have a similarresource?

    Thank you for viewing my introduction.

    Take care & ride safely.

    Go Ride!

    Koonzee
    Last edited by Koonzee; 04-05-2019, 12:11 PM.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Greetings from Southern California: Dual-sporting & Sport-touring - Koonzee

    Hi Koonzee

    Firstly, welcome to xBhp And we look forward to welcoming you to India as well next year!

    That is a nice bike you have got there.

    The founding member of xBhp has ridden around New Zealand and Australia a couple of times - The Grand New Zealand Roadtrip Tarmac rides though.

    The Grand Australian Roadtrip : Motographing 23,000 kms on a Ducati with Shell Advance

    They have also been multiple xBhpians who have ridden from India to Thailand and Malaysia. http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/3...star-city.html

    1. Conditions change frequently and every year is different. We normally plan our rides to that region on a dedicated thread, so that riders can meet up on the way and also provide updates on conditions as and when possible. http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/touring-...ng-thread.html You can also go through this - Motorcycling to Ladakh : Powered by Castrol POWER1 - Castrol POWER 1 Max : Powered by Castrol POWER1 Castrol POWER 1 Max : Powered by Castrol POWER1 We have put together a lot of information here.

    2. Foreigners need permits for certain areas. I am unsure what you mean by 'national park pass' though.

    3. Dual Sport motorcycles are not very popular in India (yet!). Fortunately for you Honda has recently launched the new Africa Twin here. And if the tyre sizes are the same maybe you can source it through them. Though you would have to plan for it in advance. I remember another rider on a Triumph Tiger 800 who couldn't find Dual Purpose tyres in India, after waiting for a week or so, he switched to road biased tyres! Hopefully you will get luckier.

    4. You can try couchsurfer. Camping in Ladakh is possible, other places i wouldn't advise. Paid accomodation though is rather cheap in India, especially compared to western standards.

    Cheers and all the best
    Biking is not about what you have between your legs, its all about how well you use it!!!!!!!

    Give your details here if you want to help your fellow xBhpian stranded in your city

    Touring Blog: Cycling in Mongolia!

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Greetings from Southern California: Dual-sporting & Sport-touring - Koonzee

      Originally posted by The Monk View Post
      2. Foreigners need permits for certain areas. I am unsure what you mean by 'national park pass' though.
      The Monk,

      Hello. Thank you very much for the kind words, valuable feedback & generous keystrokes. It is greatly appreciated!

      Great feedback regarding the tires... That explains why so many ride reports have photographs of spare tires on their rear seats or trunk. My Africa Twin is 27 years old and does not share the same rims as the new model. I will look into shipping options or bringing a spare from Australia, if necessary.

      In regards to the national parks pass, the national park system within the United States provides an option to buy one pass that allows admission into all the national parks, forests and monuments. If one plans to visit many parks, the pass is a more affordable option.

      Thanks again for your reply. It is nice join your community/forum.

      Take care & ride safely!

      Koonzee

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Greetings from Southern California: Dual-sporting & Sport-touring - Koonzee

        Originally posted by Koonzee View Post
        The Monk,

        Hello. Thank you very much for the kind words, valuable feedback & generous keystrokes. It is greatly appreciated!

        Great feedback regarding the tires... That explains why so many ride reports have photographs of spare tires on their rear seats or trunk. My Africa Twin is 27 years old and does not share the same rims as the new model. I will look into shipping options or bringing a spare from Australia, if necessary.

        In regards to the national parks pass, the national park system within the United States provides an option to buy one pass that allows admission into all the national parks, forests and monuments. If one plans to visit many parks, the pass is a more affordable option.

        Thanks again for your reply. It is nice join your community/forum.

        Take care & ride safely!

        Koonzee

        AFAIK there isn't any such thing here as a national park pass. Most roads going through national parks do not require any fee. And where there is a fee, it is nominal.
        Biking is not about what you have between your legs, its all about how well you use it!!!!!!!

        Give your details here if you want to help your fellow xBhpian stranded in your city

        Touring Blog: Cycling in Mongolia!

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Greetings from Southern California: Dual-sporting & Sport-touring - Koonzee

          Hi Koonzee, welcome to xBhp!
          A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.

          Weekend Rides Around Kolkata
          My Ride To Sunderbans -           Hemnagar & Samsernagar
          Saagar Kinare - Bakkhali Calling

          Comment

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